Govt urges districts to keep close watch on spreading of fake news

Kolkata: Besides creating awareness, the state government on Thursday directed all districts authorities to maintain a close vigil to check spreading of fake news and rumours in the wake of COVID-19.

This comes at a time when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly urged people not to spread fake news and the Centre has also written to the state's Chief Secretary about the Supreme Court's observation in this regard.

In a letter on Wednesday, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to the state Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, stating: "The Apex Court has also given directions on taking effective measures to check circulation of fake news. In view of aforesaid directions made by the Court all the state governments and undertakings are required to take necessary actions in this regard."

It was also stated in the letter that "The Court, while taking up prayers made in PILs took serious note of the panic created by fake news leading to mass movement of migrant labourers, their plight and untold sufferings".

Anuj Sharma, Commissioner of Kolkata Police, also stated in a tweet that the city police will take strong legal action against rumour mongers. Two persons have been arrested so far from New Town and Kestopur on charges of spreading fake news on Thursday, with three more arrested for the same from Purulia.

Sinha on Thursday also held a video conference with district magistrates and superintendents of police. Sources

said that there was discussion on a series of issues including setting up of dedicated COVID-19 hospitals in every district.

The district authorities were also urged to ensure lockdown properly and at the same time, to maintain sufficient supply of essential goods.

Meanwhile, round-the-clock "patrolling on railway tracks" has been started from Thursday onward at bordering areas in four districts of Bengal, namely Alipurduar, Cooch Behar, Birbhum and West Burdwan, where there is inter-state railway connectivity.

The step was taken after it came to notice that migrant workers are now taking inter-state rail routes to enter Bengal when there is complete restriction on such movement to check spread of COVID-19.

Government Railway Police (GRP) along with Railway Protection Force (RPF) is carrying out the "track patrolling" using diesel operated track trolleys.

According to sources in the state government, a section of migrant labourers are now using railway tracks to enter the state as heavy naka checking is taking place on state and national highways, mainly near the inter-state border.

The tendency of taking railway tracks to cross border has developed with very less traffic on the same.

It first came to notice at Alipurduar, where seven migrant labourers entered the state from Assam on Wednesday using the inter-state rail route there. All seven of them were quarantined.

Police saw seven of them walking along a highway adjacent to the railway tracks. When questioned, they revealed that they were returning to their village from Assam and had walked on train tracks to reach Alipurduar.

When contacted, Director General of Police (Railways) Adhir Sharma said: "Though the matter has come to notice in Alipurduar, we have decided to carry out track patrolling in Birbhum, Asansol and Cooch Behar as well, where there is inter-state railway connectivity."

Superintendents of Police of GRP in Siliguri, Howrah and Kharagpur were directed to take necessary steps in this regard.